Hyderabad to host National inter-State athletics

Hyderabad will host the 52nd National inter-State senior athletics championships from June 23 to 26 at the G.M.C. Balayogi Stadium (Gachibowli) here, Y. Harish Chandra Prasad, chairman of the Organising Committee, said.

The four-day meet will serve as the final trials event for Indian aspirants trying to book a slot for the 2012 London Olympics starting next month, a press release from Mr. Prasad said here. “This is the third time Hyderabad will host the prestigious event after 1975 and 1979. In 1979, it was held as part of the National Games,” he said.

Many Olympians including P.T. Usha, Gurbachan Singh Randhawa, and Sriram Singh have been invited for the meet. The Organising Committee with L. Rajagopal, MP, as president, and Prasad as chairman, is making every effort to ensure the event will be a grant success, Prof. K. Ranga Rao, Secretary, APAA, said.

More than 30 Indian campers along with a number of defending champions, National Games medallists and those having already represented India will take part in this meet, Rao said.